It's all worth it...

[plsmom]

I'm sitting here and it's 3:20 in the morning.  My youngest granddaughter is with us for a visit and woke up crying.  After trying to calm her down for a little while, I brought her in the living room and snuggled on the couch with her until she was resting easy again.  It's that time of night when the house is still and quiet and I'm the only one awake....and it's bringing to mind all those other nights like this.  The nights that my son (our granddaughter's daddy) kept me awake...nights he couldn't sleep because he was sick or maybe just wide awake.  I would sit there with him and snuggle until he was back asleep.  After that, my daughters were born and with each one, there were more sleepless nights.  It's hard to see when you're in the midst of it all...trying to keep everything going....keeping the kids happy and well...keeping the house going....working hard everyday (whether at a job outside the home or at home with the kids)...it's hard to stop and enjoy the small quiet moments like this when you feel so sleep deprived...wondering if you'll ever get to sleep through a whole night again.  Looking at my life and being a Mom from this end of it all....let me assure you that it's all so worth it.  We have been blessed with 2 granddaughters...one from my son and his wife and our newest from our oldest daughter when she married her husband...and I sat last night, hearing them playing and laughing with sheer joy...and I was so honored to be able to share that.  Sure...tomorrow will be a little tougher without much sleep but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  I consider it such a blessing to be entrusted with these precious souls.  I want to soak up all the moments with them so I can look back on them on nights when sleep won't come and I'm sitting in the darkened quiet house....telling myself...it was all  worth it. 

[LancesMom]

Feb. 20, 2008 at 6:52 AM I cherish those moments and wish I could start them all over....I loved laying on the couch with Lance cuddled in front of me with my arms around him....That'll never happen again! LOL! So I am waiting now, for him to get married and start giving me grand kids! In a way I envy that of other MOms, but I don't want to rush it!  Sounds like a beautiful moment, just you and your grandchild snuggled on a big ole couch in a moment of quiet throughout the house. Thanks for posting this Gail!

[amandaperry3]

Feb. 20, 2008 at 8:57 AM That is not only a beautiful reminder, but also soooo true. Lucky for me I still have some of those moments in my future I hope. Thanks for the post, it couldn't have come at a better time!

[dellis1066]

Feb. 20, 2008 at 9:18 AM Well, I do not miss the sleepless nights at all!  LOL  I do understand what you mean though.  I feel the same way with all of our teen's activities.  We try to go to everything!  I have one grown and away at college and I miss her horribly.  The other two are not far behind.  I want to soak it all in!

[jaxx]

Aug. 9, 2008 at 12:48 AM

I'll let you know how I feel when my kids outgrow the "sleepless" night syndrome...in about 5 yrs.